Our History

The AVCS History

The Almaden Valley Youth Counseling Service (AVYCS) was founded in 1980 based on a community concern that adequate counseling services were not available for youth of the community. This was in large part due to the withdrawal of school counselors on school campuses due to Proposition 13 but the final impetus was two tragic teen suicides.

AVYCS opened its doors in the basement of Joint Ventures Church with a part-time director/counselor, moving to its current office location on Crown Boulevard in 1985. In 1999, AVYCS changed its name to Almaden Valley Counseling Service (AVCS). To date, nine directors have followed serving youth, adults, families and couples by providing counseling and support for high risk kids and teens, strengthening families, parenting classes, couples in crisis, on-site school based therapy (in over 40 schools), older adults with loss, and other mental health needs.

Many AVCS counselors have a Master’s Degree in Counseling or Clinical Psychology and are pursuing their hours towards licensure as Marriage and Family Therapist through the AVCS associateship training program. Other AVCS counselors are trainees who are providing services with us in order to complete their Master’s Degree in Counseling or Clinical Psychology. The supervised clinical experience that both types of counselors need to complete the state mandated licensor requirements is provided by AVCS. Recently rental space has been opened up to licensed therapists for their individual practices at the AVCS offices.

In the earlier years much fundraising was done by the Auxiliary along with grants received from Almaden Valley Women’s Club, IBM, Santa Clara County Dept. of Social Services, Xilinx, El Camino Health, Kaiser Permanente, Sharks Foundation, and Cisco to support AVCS and its growth in providing mental health service to the community. The Auxiliary’s fundraising played a big part in earlier years not only to provide operating funds for the agency but to bring the community together through the Snow Ball fashion show luncheon, dinner and tea, the Almaden Times Classic 5k and 10k run, Home for he Holidays home tour, and Santa’s Breakfast. Today most funding is provided through school counseling contracts, client fees, grants from corporations, foundations and other organizations, and individual donations as AVCS serves hundreds of students, individuals, family and couples throughout Santa Clara County.

Our original mission was to provide counseling services, free of charge, to residents of Almaden Valley. Currently, there are no geographical boundaries and a sliding fee scale ($35-$95) was developed with our mission to provide affordable services to ALL ages ~ to support and promote personal growth, positive family relationship and emotional well-being.

“If you have not heard of Almaden Valley Counseling Service please look them up. They have been quietly helping youth and families with mental health and social issues for 35 years. This great nonprofit spends their dollars wisely and helps over 1800 youth and families annually. It was my honor to recognize their work today.”
–Johnny Khamis, San Jose City Councilmember (2015)

Year	Overview	Budget	Board Chair
2020	Responded quickly to COVID-19 pandemic by connecting with clients, schools and students to continue counseling through telehealth sessions Katy Carter retires from AVCS and Kathy Diangson, LMFT becomes interim executive director with new director Michelle Humke, CSJ, LMFT hired in August		Caryn Fabian
2019	Provided over 650 hours/week of counseling in 40 schools and 250 hours of parenting support to families Served more than 3,000 clients in the clinic and Counseling on Campus (COC) Program	$883,381
2018	Served 45 schools in 7 districts Staff of 40 associate therapist, 10 supervisors and 6 office support Provided school support and training in dealing with cyber-bullying, sexting and depression	$837,629
2017	Over 30,000 counseling hours provided by more than 42 interns and 12 supervisors 540 hours/week for COC Program and 125 hours/week for clinic counseling Top services addressed high-risk kids and teens, and strengthening families	$743,139
2016	Over 40 schools contracted for COC	$774,625
2015	Received commendation from San Jose City Council for 35 years of community service Workshops for high schools given on suicidality Served close to 2000 clients in COC Program and Clinic	$630,660
2014	Agency switches to electronic health records platform Treatment rooms refurbished reflecting AVCS’ commitment to growth 1,098 clients served in COC Program and Clinic	$459,940
2013	564 COC students served	$438,000	Jayne Kwon
2012	Dept. of Social Services, SCC grant received	$417,750	Christian Nielsen
2011	More schools added to COC Program	$380,851
2010	Broomstick Ball is held with AVCS as a grant recipient	$340,988	Brendan Coveney
2009	Received first COC school district contract from SJUSD 376 Clinic clients receive 4084 sessions hours, 326 COC students served	$345,580
2008	521 Clinic clients and 426 COC students served Rocki Kramer retires and Katy Carter becomes new executive director	$305,657	Robin Root
2007	At this time, AVCS has served over 10,000 clients with 146 interns working in our programs 499 Clinic and COC clients served Clinic clients receive 4,114 session hours	$367,062	Jerri Kazmierczak
2006	178 Clinic clients and 381 COC students served	$321,011	Adron Beeney
2005	Sliding scale fees are now $20 – $75/hour 21 schools in COC Program with 682 students seen for a total of 3,433 sessions Staff includes 25 interns, 10 supervisors, 8 licensed therapists	$316,540	Steve Kitrosser
2004	876 clients receive 7500 hours of clinical service 330 COC students seen for a total of 2,298 visits Staff of 24 interns, 10 supervisors Counseling also offered in Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Vietnamese and French		Gwen Hacker
2003	Participated in Westfield Tile Project 554 clients receive 3731 hours of clinical service 37% of clients pay lowest fee	$234,579	Elena Agostino
2002	Home for the Holidays home tour event is held Brownstone Foundation underwrites Santa’s Breakfast Staff of 21 interns, 11 supervisors, 9 licensed therapists	$211,787
2001	Geriatric Advisory program (GAP) developed by Cathleen Starr Staff of 19 interns, 8 supervisors, 9 licensed therapists	$202,708	Matt Giampaoli
2000	20th Anniversary Celebration 12 Schools in COC program 32% of Clients pay lowest fee of $15	$195,495	Marjorie Rasmussen
1999	Name changes to Almaden Valley Counseling Service (AVCS) 522 clients receive 2843 hours of clinical service 482 students seen in COC program Staff of 16 interns, 7 supervisors, 8 licensed therapists 3 new offices added	$185,734	John Redding
1998	Website developed Forum held on Alcohol Awareness 12 schools in COC Program
1997	Snow Ball is now biannual event Offices are remodeled and updated Interns who become licensed continue their practice at AVYCS	$168,000	Marc Buller
1996	Community forum is Hanging Out and No Place to Go, Teen Loitering Graystone, Terrell, Randol and Williams Elementary Schools join the COC Program
1995	Community forum is a Parent/Youth Seminar Simonds Elementary is added to COC Program	$154,000	Donna Dawson
1994	Community forum on Teenage Parties A sponsor of the Almaden Times Classic 10K/2Mile Run-Walk 539 clients receive 3,121 hours of clinical service 510 students seen in COC Program		Lisa Chaney
1993	Community forums on Gang Awareness and Teen Violence Minimum fee increased to $10 per session 10th Snow Ball event is held Staff grows to 18 interns, 4 supervisors and 4 part-time office support		David Byers
1992	Expansion of offices to include a family therapy room and a children’s art/sand tray therapy room Seven schools in COC Program 443 students seen for a total of 1,263 visits 470 clients receive 2,548 hours of clinical service		Jackie Whitlock
1991	407 COC students servedSmokeless Saturday School, smoking cessation classes start Willow Glen Education Park joins the COC Program Staff includes 12 intern clinicians		Barbara Anderson
1990	10th Anniversary Celebration First Home for the Holidays home tour is held Maximum fee for service is $50 per session	$122,600	Sheryl Stroh
1989	296 students seen through the COC Program 445 clients receive clinic service Rocki Kramer becomes the executive director		Linda Neilsson
1988	Grant from IBM purchases a computer for the office staff Fee structure changes to sliding scale from $10-$40/session		Pam Darin
1987	Castillero, Steinbeck and John Muir Middle Schools join COC Program Parent education classes are instituted		Sally Tillmans
1986	Gunderson High School joins the COC Program		Art Darin
1985	Facility moves office to Crown Boulevard Peer Facilitator Program begins at Leland High School Services extended to outside 95120 zip code	$50,000	Rich Crowley
1984	AVYCS is officially incorporated Counselor on Campus (COC) Program begins at Leland and Pioneer High Schools Auxiliary is formed and first Snow Ball fundraiser event is held		Dee Eberle
1983	Staff has grown to 4 interns and consultant supervisor Fees increased to $10/session		Sandy Engel
1982	501(c)3 non-profit status is granted and first intern clinician begins A fee of $5 per session is instituted		Guy Miller
1981	Funding received from the Almaden Valley Women’s Club A one-room office is rented		Pat Dando
1980	AVYCS is formed under the direction of Bob Martin and members of Joint Venture Churches Mission is to offer counseling services, free of charge for residents of 95120 Temporary director is Don Smith	$6,689	Bob Martin